Tampa, Ottawa Commit To Nhl

Expansion Clubs Settle Fees, Continue Work On Legal Details

December 17, 1991|By Jeff Babineau of The Sentinel Staff

The National Hockey League announced late Monday that the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators have committed to escrow their final expansion payments of $22.5 million each, satisfying the full fee of $50 million for each club.

Though the money issue loomed largest for both franchises heading into Monday's league deadline - Tampa Bay had made its other $22.5 million payment four months late - some legal details remain before the clubs will join the league as permanent members.

The Lightning and the Senators are set to join the league for the 1992-93 season, giving the NHL 24 teams.

''All that remains now for Tampa Bay and Ottawa to become permanent members of the National Hockey League is completion of the complex documentation set out under the franchise agreements,'' NHL President John Ziegler said. ''The parties are working around the clock to complete this work.''

Gerry Helper, the Lightning's vice president of communications, said that he did not know how long it would take to meet the NHL's four-page list of conditions (which has not been made public) but that Tampa Bay is working diligently to comply. Lawyers representing the NHL and both clubs worked through the weekend.

Said Lightning President Phil Esposito: ''We're anxious to complete this aspect of the process and begin the elements that are most important to Tampa Bay area hockey fans - determining a temporary home, selling season tickets, negotiating local radio and television packages, and to continue the ongoing evaluating of players in preparation for the NHL expansion and entry drafts in June of 1992.''

The Lightning, who eventually will play in the planned $97 million Tampa Coliseum, have had talks with the Florida Suncoast Dome and the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall and soon are expected to pick a temporary site for their inaugural season.